The First Dance

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A friend and I were talking about the tradition of the first dance at weddings and what song we’d chose. He reckoned that if we danced to Lady in Red there’d be lawyers, courts and custody battles involved. I reckoned that if we danced to Lady in Red, my friends would guffaw and my relatives would launch into gossipy talk about Chris de Burgh as he lives near my aunt and she often meets him in the Newsagents.

Anyhow, I’ve had a go at selecting some candidates for the big moment:

*Contenders*

Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love) - The Stylistics
You’ve Made Me So Very Happy - Bobby Gentry.
I Only Have Eyes For You - The Flamingos
La-la Means I love You - The Delfonics
Softly Softly - Ruby Martin
Don’t Tell Nobody - The Dells
Natural High - Bloodstone
Peek-a-Boo - The Stylistics
Move Over Darling - Doris Day
I’m Stone in Love With You - The Stylistics
He’s Sure The Boy I Love - The Crystals
I Love You Baby - Cindy Scott
Heaven Must Have Sent You - The Elgins
Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me - Gladys Knight and the Pips
This Girl’s in Love With You - Petula Clark
So Much Love - Dusty Springfield

*Front-runners*

For Sentimental Reasons - Nat King Cole
Sixteen Reasons - Connie Frances
The More I See You - Chris Montez
All Because of You - Francoise Hardy
I Love How You Love Me - The Paris Sisters

How important is this tradition in modern marriages and what song(s) would you chose? If you’re already married perhaps you chose an ill-advised number that you’d like to share with us?

I wonder what Tom chose and if he’s hot-stepping across a dance floor with his new wife now? Happy Nuptials Mr & Mrs Ewing!

― Lara (Lara), Saturday, 1 November 2003 23:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Romantic musings have caused me to loose command of the English language: chose = choose (in the places where I got it wrong).

― Lara (Lara), Saturday, 1 November 2003 23:21 (twenty-one years ago)

When she was young my mom attended a wedding and the first dance was to "I Can't Help Falling in Love". She didn't know that was the name of it and instead thought it was called "Fools Rush In".

― oops (Oops), Saturday, 1 November 2003 23:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Superb! Why Do Fools Fall in Love sung by Diana Ross was going to be on my list.

― Lara (Lara), Saturday, 1 November 2003 23:25 (twenty-one years ago)

'Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye' by the Casinos would be my choice, I think. It's an old doowop number starting "Kiss me each morning for a million years..."

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 1 November 2003 23:52 (twenty-one years ago)

OK, we've done this before somewhere I'm sure, but we'll do it again. I've no idea if it's terribly important or not, but it mattered to us. We had "The Wonder of You" which is short, nice, to the point and very easy to shuffle round a room to (we ain't dancers!)

When no-one else can understand me
When everything I do is wrong
You give me hope and consolation
You give me strength to carry on

And you’re always there to lend a hand
In everything I do
That’s the wonder
The wonder of you

And when you smile the world is brighter
You touch my hand and I’m a king
Your kiss to me is worth a fortune
Your love for me is everything

I’ll guess I’ll never know the reason why
You love me like you do
That’s the wonder
The wonder of you

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 1 November 2003 23:54 (twenty-one years ago)

When I read these lyrics all I can hear is Dickie Rock and the Miami Showband! What version did you have?

― Lara (Lara), Saturday, 1 November 2003 23:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I bet Ailsa is thinking Elvis.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 2 November 2003 00:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, does Slim Smith cover that song? I remember that line.

― oops (Oops), Sunday, 2 November 2003 00:01 (twenty-one years ago)

If so, she has thought Elvis!

― Lara (Lara), Sunday, 2 November 2003 00:02 (twenty-one years ago)

(crosspost)

― Lara (Lara), Sunday, 2 November 2003 00:03 (twenty-one years ago)

The irony of the fact that I am single and on ILX talking about wedding dances on a Saturday night has not eluded me, by the way.

― Lara (Lara), Sunday, 2 November 2003 00:05 (twenty-one years ago)

If there is a Slim Smith version of The Wonder Of You, I don't know it. There must be reggae covers, I'm sure, but I don't have any.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 2 November 2003 00:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually, none of the above. The band that played at the wedding sang it for us. With accordions and guitar.

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 2 November 2003 00:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, I was talking about "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye", Martin. I checked my cd's and it's on the A Unique Technique comp, which has a few other tracks that would work well here ("If I Could Build My World Around You", "Grow Closer Together", etc)

― oops (Oops), Sunday, 2 November 2003 00:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Lara, I'll marry you.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 2 November 2003 00:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Ooh, I didn't know Slim Smith did that, either. I might try to find that one, as I love the song so much.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 2 November 2003 00:18 (twenty-one years ago)

But only if we do it right now.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 2 November 2003 00:18 (twenty-one years ago)

And have "Firestarter" as the first dance.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 2 November 2003 00:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I realise I'm spoiling my chance here.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 2 November 2003 00:19 (twenty-one years ago)

It's fair to say I'm drunk.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 2 November 2003 00:19 (twenty-one years ago)

"Can't Get Enough of that Funky Stuff" - Kool & The Gang
"My Neck, My Back" - Khia

― Skottie, Sunday, 2 November 2003 01:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Someone to Watch Over Me

Betcha By Golly Wow

#1 Crush

heh...

― ModJ (ModJ), Sunday, 2 November 2003 03:24 (twenty-one years ago)

My old roomate's first song at her wedding was "In the Aeroplane over the Sea" by Neutral Milk Hotel. It was perfect.

― Carey (Carey), Sunday, 2 November 2003 03:30 (twenty-one years ago)

(Apologies for off-topic discussion here.)

'Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye' by the Casinos would be my choice, I think. It's an old doowop number starting "Kiss me each morning for a million years..."

*forgets to breathe for a minute*

Martin, did you know that song is one of my mom's alltime favorite songs?!?! OMG, and we never even knew who performed it or what the name of the song was!! Er, or at least *I* didn't. And seeing as though I've promised Mom to make her an MP3 CD she can play on her computer whilst playing Solitaire or using Word, knowing this will really help me out! OMG, I remember listening to oldies radio with my parents as a wee little tyke and seeing my parents go all swoony over this song. Even to this day Mom will sometimes start singing this song.

Lara, your post is perfect for the MP3 CD project, too. The list of songs... OMG, all of these songs are songs that Mom loves! I used to love these songs too, once again when I was a wee little tyke listening to oldies radio with my parents.

*feels giddy and happy now*

― Many Coloured Halo (Dee the Lurker), Sunday, 2 November 2003 04:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Dee, I have that Casinos song on MP3 - do you want me to email it to you?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 2 November 2003 11:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Lara, I'll marry you.

Um, thanks Nick! Although your offer is very flattering I don't really want to get married. Not until I've met someone special anyway and I don't know whether you're special yet because I (1) have never seen your bottom (2) don't know what shoes you wear (3) have never heard you speak and (4) have no idea whether you would enjoy Lionel Richie with me until old age mercifully brings deafness.

― Lara (Lara), Sunday, 2 November 2003 14:15 (twenty-one years ago)

your criteria are beyond classic, lara.

― teeny (teeny), Sunday, 2 November 2003 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd pass the first three but very definitely not the fourth.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 2 November 2003 15:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Liberty X - Just A Little

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 2 November 2003 16:18 (twenty-one years ago)

you have a bottom, wear shoes and can speak.

you must be inundated with offers of marriage, yourself.

― RJG (RJG), Sunday, 2 November 2003 16:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Every day.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 2 November 2003 16:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Dee, I have that Casinos song on MP3 - do you want me to email it to you?

Martin, you are an angel. Thank you!

deethelurker(at)satx(dot)rr(dot)com, please. I owe you one for this!

*chooses to ignore crowd who ask in unison, "One what?"*

― Many Coloured Halo (Dee the Lurker), Sunday, 2 November 2003 16:33 (twenty-one years ago)

you have a dirty mind.

― RJG (RJG), Sunday, 2 November 2003 16:43 (twenty-one years ago)

we did no thinking about this until just before the wedding because it seemed stressful and I thought it would just "come to me". Well, it didn't, so my wife chose La Vie en Rose by Edith Piaf, which was good although it wasn't untilw e were actually dancing that we realized it kind of goes on one verse tooo long, we kept thinking it was over and it wasn't. As for the first dance b/w my wife and her father, we didn't think of anything until the morning of the wedding, when I spent two hours downloading mp3s of things I didn't have and playing them for her over the phone. We finally chose Pennies from Heaven because it was inoccuous although also irrelevant.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Sunday, 2 November 2003 18:15 (twenty-one years ago)

RJG and his girlfriend, Nick Southall, will have Diana Ross and Lionel Richie singing Endless Love *live* - my wedding gift to them.

― Lara (Lara), Sunday, 2 November 2003 18:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I will cry like I am right now.

:''''(

― RJG (RJG), Sunday, 2 November 2003 18:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I think we'll all be crying.

― Lara (Lara), Sunday, 2 November 2003 18:57 (twenty-one years ago)

*especially Kirsten*

― Lara (Lara), Sunday, 2 November 2003 18:57 (twenty-one years ago)

This thread has taken a strange turn.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 2 November 2003 19:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Around the dance floor. Any advances on Firestarter?

― Lara (Lara), Sunday, 2 November 2003 19:03 (twenty-one years ago)

"Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" by Jacko.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 2 November 2003 19:05 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.obrienillustration.com/stage8/jacko_img/jacko_img_05.jpg

― RJG (RJG), Sunday, 2 November 2003 19:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Richard, that's unhealthy.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 2 November 2003 19:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I think he's had enough.

― Lara (Lara), Sunday, 2 November 2003 19:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm getting cavities...

― Sarah Pedal (call mr. lee), Monday, 3 November 2003 07:23 (twenty-one years ago)

FYI Tom and Isabel chose 'The Power of Love' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood. This was mixed into the Theme from Dallas at the point at which other couples joined the floor, which was I think a tribute to our recently received information that Isabel first dated Tom because she used to watch Dallas, and so always fancied being Mrs Ewing ;-)

― alext (alext), Monday, 3 November 2003 10:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Rener and I have decided that were we to get married our first dance would be to "Danger! High Voltage!".

― DV (dirtyvicar), Monday, 3 November 2003 11:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I think our first dance will be to marvin gaye.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 3 November 2003 11:18 (twenty-one years ago)

The theme from Dalls - being only 55 seconds long in the version given to me, caused a slight panic which could only be rescued by me playing Caught Out There by Kelis.

Sorry, I mean Don't Stop Moving by S Club 7.

There is a stewards enqiiry on the length of the best man speech competition by the way as it is possible someone had 16 minute s(actual length was 14.5 minutes).

― Pete (Pete), Monday, 3 November 2003 11:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I want "The Book of Love" at my wedding.

(goes back to empty house and kicks the cat)

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Monday, 3 November 2003 12:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I had 16 minutes, what do I win? And which of you chisellers has snaffled my prize?

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 3 November 2003 12:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Did you pay in your pound Tim. No money up front, no bet.

― Pete (Pete), Monday, 3 November 2003 12:21 (twenty-one years ago)

You didn't ask mne for my pound! How was I supposed to know? I gave you the time I wanted and offered to pay but you demurred.

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 3 November 2003 12:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Isabel first dated Tom because she used to watch Dallas, and so always fancied being Mrs Ewing ;-)

And then one day she woke and IT WAS ALL A DREAM.

― suzy (suzy), Monday, 3 November 2003 12:23 (twenty-one years ago)

(Do you see my cunning ruse Tim.)

Feel free to batter a quid out of all the other participants.

― Pete (Pete), Monday, 3 November 2003 12:26 (twenty-one years ago)

*sob*

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 3 November 2003 12:28 (twenty-one years ago)

We had "The Wonder of You" which is short, nice, to the point and very easy to shuffle round a room to (we ain't dancers!)

did the crowd burst into polite applause, but only at the end of the first couple of lines?

― DV (dirtyvicar), Monday, 3 November 2003 12:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Extensive research has proven "Chances Are" by Johnny Mathis is the perfect first dance song.

Though I prefer "We'll Be United" by the Intruders.

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Monday, 3 November 2003 13:35 (twenty-one years ago)

the prospect of marrying a girl who would let Danger! High Voltage! be the first dance has restored my faith in love and the institution of marriage. I better get married before I'm too fat to do it athletic justice though. So 2 years left or so.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 3 November 2003 13:36 (twenty-one years ago)

If Rener demurs I will take her place!

(and not just to have joint-ownership of the *Mullet book*)

― Lara (Lara), Monday, 3 November 2003 18:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Bah, I already decided while pounding back red wine at a wedding that "Take Your Hand In Mine" by The Rheostatics would be perfect.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Monday, 3 November 2003 18:41 (twenty-one years ago)

did the crowd burst into polite applause, but only at the end of the first couple of lines?

Ha ha! Actually I have no idea as I was too busy trying not to stand on the new mr ailsa's feet at the time. It was a woman singing it too. They were very good.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 3 November 2003 20:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Ailsa, did you wear a wedding mini-dress to show case your legs, in which case stamping would have been more than obvious?

― Lara (Lara), Monday, 3 November 2003 22:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Lara - Rener says that you are DEAD next time she meets you. That mullet book is hers, and hers alone.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 4 November 2003 16:53 (twenty-one years ago)

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/1561641472.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 4 November 2003 17:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Irene also wants to know why no one has yet mentioned 'Love In An Elevator'

― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 4 November 2003 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Living it up when I'm going down!!

(I will marry Rener instead, seems like an altogether more attractive package all of a sudden)

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 4 November 2003 19:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Rener is threatening a nuclear war on the dancefloor now. It is such a good thing that she can no longer access ILX from work.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 4 November 2003 23:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Please Don't Get Married (Without Asking Me)

― Luna O'Connor (Miss!), Thursday, 6 November 2003 15:27 (twenty-one years ago)

are you addressing this to anyone in particular, or do you want us all to know that you are available?

― DV (dirtyvicar), Thursday, 6 November 2003 15:31 (twenty-one years ago)

NA and I will sing a very romantic duet. Perhaps Somewhere out There or that song from Dirty Dancing (Now I've had the Time of my life...ooh!). Everyone would cry and find it incredibly romantic and we would have to choke back tears of laughter.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Thursday, 6 November 2003 15:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Ans someone would storm in and shout "No one puts baby in the corner!" and do an acrobatic and elaborate dance.

― Lara (Lara), Thursday, 6 November 2003 18:17 (twenty-one years ago)

(with Baby)

― Lara (Lara), Thursday, 6 November 2003 18:18 (twenty-one years ago)

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